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M r 1932. H. L. GEBERT ET AL 1,343,471

' LINK CONNECTION Filed March 16, 1929 Patented lVlar. 8, 1832NHTEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE HOWARD I4. GEBERT AND ALFRED W. PLACE, OFBOWLING GREEN, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE UNIVERSAL M'ACHINE COMPANY, OFBOWLING GREEN, OHIO, A CORPORA- TION OF OHIO LINK CONNECTION Applicationfiled March 16, 1929. Serial No. 347,657.

This invention relates to a link connection adapted to be used where auniversal movement and automatic take up for wear are desirable, as forexample, in the radius rod or in the drag link connection for thesteering mechanism of a motor vehicle. Heretofore, it has not beenpractical touse a ball type connection for such purposes except incomparatively light vehicles, owing to the dimii." culty of providingsuch a connection with an automatic take up which could withstand thetrmemendous strain imposed by a heavy load. With this in mind', it isthe object of our invention to provide a connection of this kind whichcan be safely used on any vehicles, no matter how heavy the load may be;

The novel features of the invention also have other advantages whichwill be more particularly explained in connection with the accompanyingdrawings illustrating in de- I as shown in the drawings, the link 5 isin the form of a seamless tubular bar swaged at 6 to form an internalseat 7 for a cup shaped housing 8 which carries the elements of theautomatic take up device. The end portion 1 9 of the tubular bar 5 isinternally threaded to receive a plug 10, which may be adjusted to theproper position and secured in such position by a locking collar 11, aswill be readily understood. Within the bar 5, between the cup 8 and theplug 10, are opposed bearing blocks 12 and 13, which are adapted toreceive the spherical head 14 of the connecting arm 15.

The block 12 is seated against an abutment member 17 which is guidedwithin the cup 8 for slidable adjustment longitudinally of the link 5,and behind this abutment member is a wedge member 18 which is guided fortransverse movement. The co-engaging surfaces of the members 17 and 18are inclined so that the member 18 has a wedging action,

and the rear face of the member 17 is preferably formed'with a channelor groove 19 While the wedge face of the member 18 is formed with acorresponding tongue 20 to facilitate the assembly of the two members inproper relative position. A coil spring 21 acts on the member 18 toexert the necessary pressure against the abutment member 17 toautomatically maintain the bearing blocks in proper engagement with thehead 14 and to provide take up for wear.

It is essential that the co-engaging surfaces of the members 17 and 18should have the proper inclination so that the pressure of the spring 21will automatically advance the wedge member 18 while back pressure fromthe bearing block12 through the member 17 cannot force the wedge member18 backwardly against the spring 21. It has been found that the idealresults for aradius rod will be obtained if the inclination of theseco-engaging surfaces forms an angle of approximately fourteen degreeswith the rear surface of the wedge member 18 which is perpendicular tothe longitudinal center line of the link 5. For other steeringconnections, a greater angle is found desirable.

The rotational movement of the abutment member 17 is prevented by ascrew threaded pin 22 which extends through the wall of the cup 18 intoa keyway 23 formed in the side of the abutment member. A pin 24 ismounted in. the wedge member 18 and extends through the side of the link5. Thus the pins 22 and 24. supplement the tongue and groove 19, 20 inmaintaining the two members 17 and 18 in proper position to preventbinding and in keeping the opposite faces of these members parallel tothe bottom of the cup.

The pin 24 may also be used to force back the'wedge member against thespring 21 to loosen the bearing blocks. This relief of the bearingblocks permits a clearance between them so that lubricant may be forcedinto direct contact with the bearing surfaces when it is introduced intothe bearing after removal of a plug provided for thatpurpose.

W hen, by reason of wear, the wedge member 18 has advanced as far as ispermitted by the side of the cup 8, it may be forced back by means ofthe pin 24, while the bearing block 13 is taken up by advancing the ping1O after the loeling col ilar has been loos'ened. This readjustment canbe repeated as long as the condition of the bearings permits it.

By means 'e'f' t-"he above censtruetfonywehave provided "a linkeonn'ectien which has all the advantages of a universal movement, whichis automatically adjustable to tempera sate for Wear, and which cannotpull apart,

the angle of inclination'oifthecmengaging surfaces "of the members-1 7-and-.l8,,in the case of the radius rod, being so chosen astopenmittliemember 18 to adlvancerreely without causing unnecessary tightness of thebeari'ngs,wliile at the same time,it is -impossible for any strain onthe bearings itdtoreememtion,'it is to her '18" :back against the springfWhen; the invention is used in a steering connection, a

greater angle is desirable,.sothat iundereer ta-in circumstanceg lthemember may be forced outwardly agains'tithe spring 21 Whi=le we haveshown and describedlin. detail the preferred embodiment: of: the invenbeunderstood that'the same. may be considerably modified without departingfrom the scape ogfftheinventi'on as definedxin 'the'appended claims;

What we claim'is: f f 1;. A'link o'fthe class described comprising a.tube. with vopposed bearing 'blocksjtherein, abutment members wl'iieha'e housed within said tube and against which the respective bearing.blocks, seat, one of. said members -being slidablelongitudinaally offthe tube and formed with 'arear inclined suriace, a'euppe d' seatwithin said'tube, a wedgeinemberhoused within said cupped seat, andslid'ableitransversely thereof and having an inclined "facebearing-lagainst'the inclined face of the abutment member,v and a springwithinsaid seat V tending to advance said'wedge meniben 2. I A link ofthe classdescmbedcomprising a tube with opposed bearingblocks therein,abutment membersagainst whichv said :beartube having a circular seat onits interior-and at right angles tothe axis of the tube, a supportingmember extending transversely of the axis of the tube engaged againstsaid seat, opposed bearing blocks in the tube, abutment members withinthe tube against which the nespeetiwe. bearing blocks seat, one of saidmembers being slidablelongitudinally of the tube and formed with a rearinclined suriia ee, a 'wedgeneniber*engaged'with said supportihg memberand havingits wedge face engagedwith the inclined face-of said abutmentmember, and spring means to advance the wedge member.

posed bearing blocks in. the. tube, a :pair of abutment memberswithinjthe' tube and against which the respective bearing bl'ocl rsseat, one of said-members being slidabl'e lone gitudinall y oii the tubeandhaying a re ar .inclinedtace, a wedgemember slidableltransversely thetube and having an. inclined- Tn ali'nkofthetype set forth, a tube, op-'faceengaging thelinclined face. or said that ment member, means toprovide aseat forthe Wedg-e 1nem ber ,tolperlnit 'tliereof v spr ngmeans to advance the 'Wedgemember,

manually operablenneans connected to the wedgelir nemher and eitendingoutwardly of the tube tOrIIlOVG the wedge member ragainst the'action ofthe springaan dthus release. the:

wed'g ingfengagement between the wedge. "inembert -and :said abutment:member, and

means to adjust one of the bearing blocks upon :said movement of thewedge 'member.

thereby-to adj-41st :the latter following wear.

In testimony whereo'fwe have hereunto signed our names to thisspecificatien. V

r A 1.1-IQWARD EL. GEBERT.

" WL PLACE.

ing blocks seat,(inept-saidmembersbeing slidable longitudinally of thetube formed with a rear inclined surface,v acupped seat within said--tube behind the slidable member, a wedgememberhoused withinsaid cuppedseat slidableltransverselytheredf and having-an inclinedface-beariingagainSt the inclined "face of the slidable abutmentmember,'the co-engag ing-inclined. facesihaving a tongueandgrooveeonnectionto facilitate their assembly in proper relative,positien,- a spring wi-tliinflth e ,seat tending to advance said wedgemember, andfimeans for keying iat least one of said-co engaging' mem-'bers to the cuppedlseatQ V 3. A'linkaof thetype .set ferthiin'eluding a

